THE Country Liberal Party (CLP) has announced a Plan for a Safe Territory which aims to reform the corrections system in the Northern Territory.
This plan includes reducing prison overcrowding, rehabilitating offenders, and equipping them with life skills to prevent repeat offending.
According to Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro, the CLP will ensure that those who commit crimes face real consequences such as imprisonment, skill development, job readiness, or compulsory community service.
The Plan includes several initiatives such as building two new women’s prisons in Alice Springs and Darwin, establishing two adult prisoner work camps, introducing a new Work in the Community Home Detention program, and implementing a Sentenced to a Skill program.
The CLP will also introduce compulsory alcohol, drug, and behavioural change rehabilitation for related offences for sentences over three months.
The plan also involves the creation of a standalone Corrections agency, which will include youth justice.
Additionally, the CLP will boost the Sentenced to a Job program and introduce compulsory community service for youth offenders.
The CLP will establish two Youth Boot Camps located in Darwin and Alice Springs, and all future prisons will be built at Holtze.
Mrs Finocchiaro stated that the CLP will fast-track the scope and design work of the two new women’s prisons so that construction can begin soon.
“Work will also begin immediately with $10 million to set up two new adult prisoner work camps, each supporting 50 prisoners, plus $5 million for our Sentenced to a Skill program, which will build a new skills training detention centre, starting in Alice Springs, to provide routine, structure, skills-based training, and therapeutic support,” she said.
Member for Barkly and Shadow Justice Minister Steve Edgington said it is expected the plan to free up at least 270 prison beds across the Northern Territory.
“Labor has failed to invest in corrections or plan for prisoner numbers now and into the future,” he said.
“Our prisons are bursting, with numbers up nine per cent last financial year, and yet Labor continues to force police to use watch houses to house prisoners.
“Around 75 per cent of NT prisoners have been in gaol before, showing Labor is failing repeat offenders.
“Our Sentenced to a Skill program will give youth offenders a real opportunity to end the cycle of crime for good. It will give youth offenders an intervention to turn their lives of crime into productive lives.
“Importantly, we will actually deliver Youth Boot Camps, unlike Labor who have promised them for eight years yet delivered nothing.”